Homage to the art of theatre making and a reminder of the power of the human imagination in good story-telling, The Woman in Black up until 2023, had been running in London for over 30 years.
This production however is a reproduction of Robert Herford’s original, reproduced for this current Australian tour by Antony Eden. Appropriately, it eschews whiz-bang technical advances in modern theatre trickery production in favour of a return to simple theatrical effects and excellent acting to spark the imagination and entertain its audience. And remarkably effective it is too.
Two of the country’s most accomplished actors in John Waters as Arthur Kipps and Daniel Macpherson as The Actor, manage to convince the willing audience that they are watching as many characters as are necessary for the telling of Arthur Kipps convoluted, gripping story involving a haunted house, a graveyard and perhaps, a ghost.
Utilising the conceit of convincing the audience that it is being let into some theatrical tricks of the trade, both meet backstage of a musty old theatre.
The Actor agrees to help Arthur Kipps improve his presentation skills in order to divest himself of a series of troubling events which have been destroying his piece of mind for years. In the process, they both become thoroughly invested in the story-telling along with the audience.
By simply adopting a different voice, or change of physical bearing and multiple quick changes of clothing, the audience soon become complicit with the convention and happy to go along with the pair as it too becomes involved in the story.
Laughs come thick and fast as in seconds a wicker basket becomes a solicitor’s desk, a railway carriage, an altar, a trap or a bed. A simple gauze lit from a different angle reveals something previously invisible. Recorded sounds heighten the illusion.
However none of this would work without the skill of the actors, and both Waters and Macpherson revels in the opportunity to demonstrate their range. .
In fact what they offer is a masterclasses in timing, vocal delivery, stage deportment and commitment to each character they create. The audience favourite however was Spider. You’ll definitely fall in love with Spider.
Delightfully entertaining and involving, even a bit scary at times, The Woman in Black should be de rigueur for any lover of theatre, particularly for the opportunity it offers to experience two accomplished actors exercising their considerable theatrical skills.
The Woman in Black
Canberra Theatre – Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, Canberra
Performance: Wednesday 10 July 2024
Season continues to 14 July 2024
Bookings: www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Following the Canberra season, The Woman in Black will play the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong (17 – 21 July), Civic Theatre, Newcastle (23 – 27 July) and Theatre Royal Sydney (30 July – 17 August 2024). For more information, visit: www.thewomaninblack.com.au for details.
Image: John Waters and Daniel Macpherson in The Woman in Black – photo by Justin Nicholas
Review: Bill Stephens OAM